Rainbow Futures Scholarship

As a Black queer woman, I deal with discrimination because of my race, gender, and sexual orientation. In healthcare, work, and social settings, I often face unfair treatment. I sometimes feel left out in LGBTQ+ spaces and can also encounter homophobia in Black communities. This mix of biases makes it hard to find acceptance and support, leading to stress and feeling isolated. Despite these challenges, I have remained committed to my education and personal growth. My academic achievements, like making the Dean's List, participating in study abroad programs in London and Dublin, and being part of the Honor's Program, have been sources of pride and motivation. Being a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Academy Scholars Program has also given me the chance to connect with other driven students and learn from their experiences. My extracurricular activities, such as working as a CIEGE Student Worker, participating in the AFA Club, and serving on the Honors Student Advisory Council, have allowed me to develop leadership skills and build a supportive community. Additionally, my involvement in the Pre-Professional Health Student Society and Global Leaders Unite has helped me explore my interest in healthcare and global issues. I aspire to pursue higher education in the field of healthcare, with a focus on addressing disparities faced by marginalized communities. I believe that with the right education, I can make a meaningful impact on the healthcare system and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. My goal is to become a healthcare professional who not only provides quality care but also works to create inclusive and equitable healthcare environments for all patients. Receiving the Rainbow Futures Scholarship would greatly alleviate the financial burdens that come with pursuing higher education. As someone who has balanced academics with numerous extracurricular activities and part-time work, I understand the importance of financial support in achieving my goals. This scholarship would allow me to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress, enabling me to fully commit to my education and advocacy efforts. With the scholarship, I would be able to continue my involvement in organizations that support LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. I plan to use my education to develop programs and initiatives that address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. By doing so, I hope to create a more inclusive and supportive society for everyone. In conclusion, my experiences as a Black queer woman have shaped my aspirations and commitment to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. The Rainbow Futures Scholarship would provide the financial support needed to pursue my higher education goals and make a positive impact on society. Thank you for considering my application.

Living life as a person apart of the LGBTQ+ has been a heralding and worrisome adventure. I have been Bisexual since I was twelve years old and have never looked back. Living in a Christian household I could never feel truly accepted by my peers and parents. Feeling like I had to hold on to the truth and hide from people it drained me and made me feel so isolated. I have found Certain communities that I have gravitated too, help me realize maybe my colors were not only black and white. I did not know who I was or why I was put on this Earth, and I am still learning everyday. However, the LGBTQ+ has helped me bring myself out of my own jail cell, that our country and culture has convinced me I belong in. I began to accept myself once I moved out and started to live on my own recently. I began going to college and started to learn about how to think and where I want to go in life. I joined and began creating a Instagram page that supports the LGBTQ+ that has gained over 13k followers. I love social media and marketing strategies so much and I would use my art to spread the love of the LGBTQ+ to everyone around. By making people see and exposing people to the LGBTQ+ I can start to help people grow and understand us as a community instead of enemies. This scholarship would move mountains for me and could push me to continue college. Currently I am worried of the debt I could accumulate if I go to college and the financial burden of never paying it off. However, the stress of the never ending debt and the living crisis would be mostly quelled by this help. As a person of the LGBTQ+ any support our community can get will greatly help the spread and growth of the love and compassion this community could have. Overall, my life has been a lot of ups and downs. Discovering I was apart of a community that most people do not want to accept was disheartening. However, Over these last couple years I have begun to accept who I am and to begin advocate for the community that I have found myself in. Whether you are straight, gay, or somewhere in between I hope that we can come together and build a community that supports each other.

Being a young Latino man who is gay, I grew up with conflicting feelings about myself. My parents, who are Catholic, wanted me to be brought up in the same religion. I quickly discovered that many followers of this religion do not necessarily agree with people like me. The same place that taught me the importance of love, peace, and sympathy suddenly lost all of those when it came to me simply being true to who my heart loved. The followers who used their own interpretation of scripture to fuel hatred against what is not normal for them pushed me away from the church. People often get frustrated with what they do not understand, and when someone is not like them, ignorance fuels actions that they do not even necessarily see as wrong. I see it every time I am working with my painted nails, and a father looks at them with nothing but disgust on his face. I see it every time a devout Christian leaves a scripture from the Bible telling me to seek repentance and forgiveness from the Lord. Every time I check out a customer at my job as a server, I see that fueled hatred in the eyes of the protesters as I try to enjoy Pride month in Atlanta, the one time a year I can feel fully surrounded by people who understand my experience. Though time has healed some ignorance and educated many, allowing people like me to be more open, we are a long way from fully being accepted and secure in who we are. For as many people who have come to accept us for who we are, there exist double the amount who want nothing to do with us. Despite these challenges, I have found strength in my identity and community. My experiences have driven me to pursue a career in nursing at Georgia Highlands College. I want to use my education to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and contribute to society at large. As a nurse, I will provide compassionate care to all patients, regardless of their background or identity. I also plan to be an active voice in promoting inclusive healthcare practices and policies that respect and protect LGBTQ+ individuals. Receiving the Rainbow Futures Scholarship would alleviate the financial burdens that currently hinder my educational journey. With a GPA of 2.9, I am committed to improving my academic performance and making the most of my education. This scholarship would allow me to focus more on my studies and less on the financial strain, enabling me to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship, as it would not only support my education but also empower me to make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you for considering my application.